Draft-equalizer.



PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

S. SHUMWAY. DRAFT EQUALIZER. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 28, 1906.

Ji $77707! 122mm rm: mmms FEIERS ca., WASHINGTON, n. c.

SOLOMON SI-IUMWAY, OF LE ROY, NEW YORK.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed November 28,1906. Serial No. 345,478.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SOLOMON SnUMwAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Le Boy, in the county of Genesee and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers; andIdo declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in draft equalizers, and moreparticularly to one adapted for equalizing the draft on three horses.

The object of the invention is to provide a device. of this characterwhich will be of sim ple, strong, durable and inexpensive construction,and which may be readily reversed, so that two of the animals may becaused to walk upon either side of the draft pole or tongue.

WVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvedthree horse evener or equalizer; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing thesame reversed; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. & is a frontelevation of the evener bar or member; and Fig. 5 represents a frontelevation of a modified form of evener bar.

The numeral 1 denotes the rear end of the draft tongue or pole of avehicle or machine of any description, and 2 denotes the improved threehorse draft equalizer or evener. This device comprises a reversibleevener bar or member 3, which, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, is in theform of an open frame consisting of a flat bottom portion 4 and a curvedor bow-shaped upper portion 5. The bar or member 3 has a slightlongitudinal curvature and at equally distant points from its ends arevertical openings 6 to receive a pivot 7. The latter has its lower endseated in the tongue 1, as shown at S in Fig. 3, and its upper endengaged and braced by a metal strap 9. This strap 9 is curvedlongitudinally and has its rear end loosely secured by a staple or thelike 10 upon the top of the draft tongue. The pin 7 may be inserted ineither of the two openings 6, so that the bar or member 3 may bereversed as presently explained. Upon the front of this bar or member atits center and at each of its ends are arranged hooks 11, 12 and 13.Either of the hooks 12, 13 is adapted to be engaged by an eye 14provided upon a draft bar 15 at a point about two-thirds of its length.This draft or evener bar 15 has mounted in the usual manner upon itslong arm or end 16 a singletree 17 and its short arm or end 18 isconnected by a rod or link 19 to the rear portion of the draft tongue 1.This connecting draft rod 19 has its ends bent at right angles andinserted in openings in the tongue 1 and bar 15, as seen in Fig. 3. Thehook 11 is adapted to be engaged by an eye 20 upon the center of adouble-tree 21, which latter has mounted upon its ends two single trees22, 23.

The operation of the invention will be readily seen upon reference toFigs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the evener arrangedso that one horse is upon the right hand side of the tongue and theother two horses are upon the left-hand side, and Fig. 2 shows the partsreversed, that is, two of the singletrces upon the right-hand side andone upon the left-hand side. In reversing these parts it is necessary tochange the pivot 7 from one of the openings 6 to the other, to swingover or invert the draft or evener bar 15 and to engage its eye 14. withthe other of the two hooks 12, 13.

The evener bar shown in Fig. 5 is constructed from a single bar 3 curvedslightly longitudinally and having apertures as 6 ex tendingtransversely therethrough a short distance from its ends to receive thepivot 7. Upon the front of this bar 3 near each end are arranged hooks11 and 12 either of which is adapted to be engaged by the eye 14 of thedraft bar 15.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, as defined by theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters-Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a drafttongue, of a reversible evener member having pivot openings adjacent toits ends, a pivot engaged with one of said openings for connecting saidmember to said tongue, connecting elements at the center and at the endsof said member, a doubletree carrying swingletrees and having at itscenter a connecting element to engage the central connecting element onsaid member, an evener-bar having a connecting element intermediate itsends to engage either of the connecting elements at the ends of saidmember, a swingletree upon the long arm of said evener bar, and a rod orlink connecting the short arm of said evener bar to said tongue.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a drafttongue, of a re,- versible evener member having pivot openings adjacentto its ends, a pivot to engage either of said openings and connect saidof said equalizing bar and a link or rod con o necting the short arm ofsaid equalizing bar to said tongue, substantially as shown and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Wit- 3 5 IlGSSGS.

SOLOMON SHUMWAY. Witnesses:

FRED A. LEWIS, SooTT W. SKINNER.

